Water Department

The Water Department is responsible for providing an abundant, high quality supply of potable water to the citizens and businesses of Portland. The Water Department maintains the water distribution mains and provides funds for development, extension and improvement of the facilities required to carry out its duties.

The Water Department employs a full-time water technician and utilizes personnel from the Department of Public Works for maintenance of the water distribution system as well as for construction and service connections that are done by staff. Some construction or reconstruction projects and distribution systems are of a size or nature, which necessitates contracting these services to outside individuals or firms. The Water Department provides funds for this work.

The water treatment and distribution systems are regulated by the Michigan Department of Public Health. Revenues for all water system improvements and operating costs are generated by water sales and through special fees such as connection fees, system development charges and special assessments.

Contact Us

Rod Smith

The Water Department is open Monday - Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. If you need assistance regarding an emergency with your water service please call the Water Department at 517-647-2948 or City Hall at 517-647-3205 (Monday- Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

If you need assistance regarding an emergency with your water service after normal business hours please call Ionia County Central Dispatch at 616-527-0400.

​PFAS TESTING - UPDATE 12/27/18

NOTICE: CITY OF PORTLAND – WELL #5 PFAS CONFIRMATION TESTING RESULTS

On September 25, 2018, a Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) contractor collected a sample of water from our three production wells and one standby well. Those results reported no per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were detected in our primary wells PW-4, PW-6 and PW-7. Those results also reported no detectable PFAS other than trace levels of PFOS at 4 parts per trillion (ppt) in our standby well, PW-5. This level is 17 times below the MDEQ standard of 70 ppt. In response, we directed our engineer, Fleis & VandenBrink (F&V) to collect a confirmation sample from PW-5. The well was sampled on November 30 and the results reported no detectable PFAS other than trace levels of PFOS at 3.26 ppt.

Since this level of PFAS is below the MDEQ standard, City action is not required by the State of Michigan. However, the City will continue to work with our Engineer, Fleis & VandenBrink (F&V) to take the following actions:

PW-5 will remain off-line indefinitely. PW-5 was taken out of regular service over 20 years ago and since then was only used in emergency and standby situations.

Develop and implement testing of waste water for PFAS from potential sources that discharge to our waste water treatment plant.

Conduct annual testing for PFAS.

Conduct a study to identify suitable locations for a new community water well.

If you need additional information, please feel free to contact me directly at (517) 647-2931 or at the email address below.

​PFAS TESTING

NOTICE: CITY OF PORTLAND - PFAS TESTING RESULTS The Michigan PFAS Action Response Team (MPART) is in the process of a statewide initiative to test drinking water from community water supplies. The test is looking for a group of manmade chemicals called per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). PFAS are a group of industrial chemicals that have been used world-wide in common consumer products and manufacturing processes. PFAS can be found in fire-fighting foams, stain repellants, nonstick cookware, waterproof clothing, food wrappers, and many other household products.

Two PFAS chemicals are perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS). PFOA and PFOS have potential health implications when present in drinking water at concentrations above health advisory levels. The EPA has set a lifetime health advisory (LTHA) level for PFOA and PFOS in drinking water. The LTHA level is 70 parts per trillion (ppt) for PFOA and PFOS combined. Other PFAS compounds do not have LTHA levels. The State of Michigan is using 70 ppt for decision making purposes.

We obtain our regular drinking water supply from three groundwater wells: PW-4, PW-6 and PW-7. The City also maintains an emergency well: PW-5. PW-5 was taken out of regular service over 20 years ago and is only used in emergency and standby situations.

On September 25, 2018, a Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) contractor collected a sample of water from our three production wells and one standby well. Today, we received the results that reported no PFAS was detected in our primary wells PW-4, PW-6 and PW-7. PFAS at 4 parts per trillion (ppt) was detected in our emergency well, PW-5. This level is over 17 times below the MDEQ standard of 70 ppt.

In response to this result, the City has been working closely with MDEQ, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (DHSS), and our Engineer, Fleis & VandenBrink (F&V). Despite the low level (4ppt) and not being in regular service, I directed that PW-5 be taken completely off-line pending results of re-testing to confirm the MDEQ results.

General information on PFAS in drinking water from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and other resources can be found below. If you need additional information, please feel free to contact me directly at (517) 647-2931 or at the email address below.

Residential Cross Connection Inspections

The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) will soon be asking Community Water Supplies to perform Residential Cross Connection Inspections. The first phase of these inspections, will begin with homes that have lawn sprinkling systems and/or boiler heat as those systems pose a higher potential risk of causing a possible cross connection. The City of Portland Water Department would like to encourage you to contact us, if you have either or both in your home. In doing so, you would be helping us to update our records so we can continue to provide you with high quality and safe drinking water for years to come. You can do so by phone at 517-647-2948 or by email.

Please follow this link to the HydroCorp website for information regarding cross connections. The information provided explains what a cross connection is, what you can do to protect yourself, your neighbor, and your community from a possible cross connection event. If you have any questions or would like to learn more about what you can do within your home to protect our water supply please contact the Water Department. We would be glad to help.

Wellhead Protection Program Plan

Throughout the State of Michigan, areas of polluted groundwater are present in almost every urbanized area.
When contamination in groundwater becomes significant, human health and economic activities may be affected.
As a result, communities have recognized the need for a systematic approach to groundwater quality management.
A Wellhead Protection Program (WHPP) is one approach that develops long-term strategies to protect a community’s drinking water supply. The long-term management of groundwater quality is endorsed at both the federal and the state level. Specifically, the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act was amended in 1986 to include wellhead protection. Additionally, the State of Michigan provides financial and technical resources wellhead protection program communities. The City of Portland’s Wellhead Protection Plan (Plan) is a “living” document that details action being taken to ensure the long-term integrity of the City’s water supply system.